Sheriff: Man arrested in Bastrop for selling counterfeit Honda generators

The Bastrop County sheriff’s office on Tuesday arrested a man from Los Angeles at a Bastrop motel after investigators accused him of removing branding stickers from off-brand, Chinese generators and replacing them with Honda stickers before selling the generators, the sheriff’s office said Thursday.

Angelo Arias was charged with trademark counterfeiting, a state jail felony. As of Thursday, he was being held at the Bastrop County jail with bail set at $50,000.

The sheriff’s narcotics unit began an investigation Tuesday into possible criminal activity after investigators stopped a vehicle with California license plates in which they found two Honda-branded generators. The investigation led authorities to a Bastrop motel and to a 2016 Dodge cargo van with California license plates. During a search of that van, investigators found Honda markings, equipment to remove decals, and 10 Chinese, off-brand generators, the sheriff’s office said.

Investigators determined that Arias, the van’s owner, had been removing the off-brand stickers from the generators and replacing them with Honda stickers. Arias would then sell the off-brand generators as original Honda generators, the sheriff’s office said.

“It is also believed that he may have been counterfeiting other types of tools or equipment,” the sheriff’s office said.

Investigators seized Arias’ van, 12 generators and about $2,500.

The sheriff’s office is warning residents to be wary of anyone selling equipment or other items that appear to be name brand for an unreasonable price.

Anyone who thinks they may have been a victim of this counterfeiting scheme is asked to call the sheriff’s office at 512-549-5100.